Dec. 16, 2013
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Syracuse Orange (12-0) / Seth Wenig AP

by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

Even with a dearth of major upsets in college basketball this week, there were still some changes in the rankings.

There was no suspense at the top. Arizona easily retained the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll for a second week, once again claiming 30 of 32 first-place votes.

But No. 2 is now quite literally a dead heat. Ohio State and Syracuse, separated by just three poll points a week ago, are now tied for second, with each still getting a No. 1 nod. Louisville, Michigan State and Wisconsin continue to hold down the next three positions.

Stock up: Oklahoma State. The Cowboys were able to climb two places within the top 10 thanks to some minor shifting with close point totals. They check in at No. 7

Stock down: Kentucky. The Wildcats' road loss at North Carolina, their third setback of the young season, sent the preseason No.1 team tumbling out of the top 10 all the way to No. 21. UK's 11-position drop is the largest of the week.

Stock up: Connecticut. Replacing Kentucky at No.10 are the unbeaten Huskies, who gained two places to leapfrog another undefeated squad, No. 11 Oregon.

Stock down: Kansas. The Jayhawks did pick up a bounce-back win against New Mexico after falling earlier in the week to Florida. But that didn't stop KU from taking a six-spot hit in the rankings to check in at No.19.

Stock up: North Carolina. The up-and-down Tar Heels are back on the upswing, gaining three places to No.18 following their win against UK. The upward move of three matches the largest of the week shared by No. 13 Iowa State and co-No. 15 Baylor. The Bears, by the way, split the No. 15 spot with Gonzaga, which can't seem to stay out of ties. The Bulldogs were even with Iowa State at No. 16 last week.

Stock down: Duke. It wasn't anything the Blue Devils did, since they were out of action all week. But both they and Wichita State were nudged down a slot to No. 8 and 9, respectively, as Oklahoma State surged ahead.

New kids on the block: No. 24 Colorado, No. 25 Missouri.

College dropouts: Iowa, Michigan.

Eddie Timanus, a colleges sports writer and the polls editor for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @EddieTimanus.